Room air-conditioner window mount arrangement



Dec. 2, M- D. ULICH ROOM AIR'CONDITIONER WINDOW MOUNT ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 8, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR M. D. ULlCH 3,481,264

ROOM AIR-CONDITIONER WINDOW MOUNT ARRANGEMENT Dec. 2, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 73 Filed Jan. 8, 1968 United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 98-94 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE For mounting room air-conditioners provided with an extendible closure frame movable out from the air conditioner to engage with a window frame, the end member of the closure frame has a locking clip movable in ratcheted fashion to engage with the window sash channel to stabilize the end member of the frame in the plane of the sash channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention pertains to the art of mounting room air-conditioners in windows, and pertains particularly to means for stabilizing an extendible closure frame relative to a window sash channel.

Description of the prior art Arrangements of which I am aware for locking and stabilizing the end members of extendible closure frames associated with window mounted room air-conditioners are exemplified by those arrangements found in U.S. Patents 2,946,274, 3,030,873, and 3,134,319. In the first noted patent, a compressible gasket along the edge of the end member stabilizes the frame by the frictional engagement of the gasket in the sash channel of the window. In the second noted patent, an angle flange is adjusted laterally on the end member to the width of the channel and is tightened in place by screws before the frame is finally extended and locked. In the third patent, I

the lateral adjustment of a channel on the end member is done automatically by engagement of the channel with a portion of the sash channel as the frame is extended outwardly. While each of these three arrangements includes means for accommodating different width sash channels, each is considered to be lacking in one respect or another, such as requiring undue manipulation to fit a particular sash channel width, or as not being sufficiently positive in insuring stabilization of the end member relative to the sash channel.

The arrangement of my invention is believed superior to that of the prior art teachings in that it is relatively inexpensive, operates very simply and is substantially foolproof in use, and provides good stabilization of the end member in different channel widths.

SUMMARY 'OF THE INVENTION The gist of my invention is the provision of flange means on the end member disposed to abut one face of the sash channel, and clip means mounted in ratcheted relation on the end member and movable away from the flange to a position abutting the opposite face of the ice sash channel, this arrangement permitting the closure frame to be extended to its final position before the clip means is moved to stabilize the end member.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the end portion of a closure frame for a room air-conditioner having an arrangement according to the invention, and being disposed in a position to be moved into engagement with the illustrated sash channel of the window frame;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through the end member and window frame illustrating the end member in position, and the looking clip of the arrangement in alternate positions;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the end member and the parts of the arrangement before assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the arrangement according to the invention with the lock clip extended and illustrating how it may be returned to its minimum width position for future use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The basic closure frame arrangement to which my invention is applied is not of particular significance so long as it includes an end member intended to be moved into stabilized relation with a wind-ow frame sash channel. The parts of the closure frame shown are of the type detailed in Metcalfe U.S. patent application Ser. No. 476,105, and my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 685,699 to which reference should be had for additional detail.

In the type closure frame illustrated, the main part of the end member is a hollow curtain-housing 10 which is generally square in lateral cross section, and contains a self-coiling curtain 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which is played out of the longitudinal slot 14 at one corner of the housing as the housing is moved out toward the sash channel of the window frame 16. The end wall 18 of the housing 10 carries a longitudinally-extending, outwardly-projecting flange 20 which may be formed as an integral part of the extruded aluminum housing. The housing also preferably carries a forwardly-projecting, L-shaped flange 22 along its outer front corner serving as a finger grasp for extending the frame away from the air conditioner as a finger grasp and for pulling the flange 20 up against the one face of the sash channel during manipulation of the locking clip 24.

The locking clip 24 is of an elongated Z-shape and is shown in broken line position in FIG. 2 before it has been moved into its solid line position locking the end member to the sash channel.

In the stabilized position of the closure frame means, the flange 20 generally abuts one face 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the sash channel, while the outer end portion 28 of the locking clip 24 abuts the opposite face 30 of the sash channel. The end 28 of the locking clip holds its position spaced from the flange 20 the width of the sash channel by virtue of ratcheted relation between the end wall 18 and the locking clip.

The preferred way of providing the ratcheted relation between the clip 24 and the end member 10 is best seen in FIG. 3. As there shown, the flange 20 is provided with a cutout or opening 32 defined on one side by the exterior face of the end wall 18. The locking clip 24 is manipulated through the cutout 32 so that its Web or main portion (also designated 24) will lie against the exterior face of the end wall 18 of the end member 10. The part of the end wall exterior face on the outer side of flange 20 has sawtooth grooves 34 inclined toward what will be the outside of the window as the frame and housing are installed.

At about one-half inch (corresponding to the narrowest sash channel normally encountered) from the end portion 28 on the lock clip 24, detent means 36 are provided at opposite edges of the main portion 24 of the locking clip. These detent means may simply be tabs struck in a direction to lie in conforming relation in the interdental spaces of the sawtooth grooves 34 and permit the clip to be moved in ratcheting fashion in-a direction moving the end portion 28 of the clip away from the flange 20, but preventing the reverse direction of movement so long as the clip 24 is held reasonably tightly against the exterior face of the end wall 18.

To hold the lock clip 24 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in place so that the detents 36 bear reasonably tightly against the grooves 34, and to guide the clip 24 in its movement, a retainer clip 38 is provided to seat upon the flange 20 and bear against the main portion of the lock clip 24. The retainer clip includes a central saddle portion 40 and opposite wings 42 and 44. The angle formed between the bottom faces of the two wings is slightly less than 180 so that when the retainer clip 38 is seated in position, both wings bear rather tightly against the clip 24.

The retainer clip 38 includes a pair of lugs 46 struck inwardly adjacent the junction between the wing 42 and the saddle portion 40, at opposite edges of the saddle. These lugs hook against the upper edge 48 (as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4) of the cutout 32 when the retainer clip is pushed down into position to hold it in position. The wing 44 is provided with a downwardly-directed prong 50 at the middle of its edge remote from the saddle. This prong is received in a slot 52 extending along the central portion of the locking clip 24 to guide the locking clip and prevent it from skewing as it is moved into its locking position.

The retainer clip also has a slot 54, extending along the inside corner formed at the juncture of wing 44 and the saddle, useful for releasing the pressure of the retainer clip wing 44 against the lock clip to permit sliding the lock clip back to an initial position. It will be appreciated that after the lock clip has been advanced to a position such as the FIG. 2 solid line position, that the ratcheted arrangement prevents the lock clip from being moved entirely back to its initial position without in some way releasing the bearing of the retainer clip wing 44 against the lock clip. This is accomplished by inserting the screwdriver (FIG. 4) in the slot 54 and pulling it upwardly in the direction shown by the arrow until the retainer clip wing 44 is pulled up sufliciently to slide the lock clip 24 back to a minimum width position.

The end portion 28 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the lock clip may also be provided with teeth 56 which dig into the sash channel face 30 for adding stability to the clip in its final position.

To insure a full understanding of the way in which the locking arrangement is used, the following is noted. The end member is pulled away from the air-conditioning until the flange 20 is in the sash channel and closely adjacent the channel face 26. This results automatically when the air-conditioner is properly set since the airconditioner is located in the window so that the front face of the window sash bears against the unit at a location corresponding to the plane of the flange 20. The end member is held out in this extended position by a thumb screw or other suitable means provided on the particular closure frame for this purpose. Then the locking clip is pushed in a direction towards the outdoors by pushing against the forward leg of the clip, and preferably by holding the L-flange 22 of the end member with the finger tips to insure that the flange '20 stays closely adjacent the face 26 of the sash channel. As the lock clip is moved the detents 36 move across successive grooves 34 until the end portion 28 of the lock clip bears against the opposite face 30 of the sash channel. The teeth 56, if provided, dig into this face 30 to a slight degree to help stabilize the lock clip 24. The movement of the lock clip has been guided in a direction perpendicular to the housing 10 by the prong 50 and slot 52 relationship. When the air-conditioner is to be removed from the window, the closure frame is moved back toward its retracted position to pull the flange 20 and end ortion 28 of the lock clip out of the channel. Then the locking clip end 28 may be sprung slightly away from the groove face to return the lock clip toward its initial position. In .most cases it is not necessary to return it completely to its minimum width position as explained in connection with FIG. 4 unless the air-conditioner will subsequently be placed in a window having a narrower sash track than in the previously used window.

It is preferred that the flange 20 extend for the length of the housing end to provide a full seal. The flange may be recessed slightly on its face abutting the channel face 26 where the retainer clip seats on the flange so that the exposed faces are flush for a more perfect seal, but this is not considered necessary usually since the clips are preferably made of relatively thin stock spring steel.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement according to the invention is applicable to closure forms used on air-conditioners for either vertically or horizontally slidable windows.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a room air-conditioner window mounting arrangement;

an extendible frame end member movable into engagement with the window sash channel, said frame end member including first means for abutting one of the opposing faces of said sash channel, and including second means movable laterally relative to said abutting means for abutting the other of said opposing faces of said sash channel to stabilize said end member in said channel against lateral movement, said second means being mounted on said end member in ratcheted relation to said first abutting means so that said second means will hold at a distance from said first abutting means corresponding to the width of said sash channel.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:

said first abutting means comprises flange means extending for substantially the length of said end membet.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 including a lock clip carrying said second abutting means thereon and having detent means formed integrally therein and projecting toward said end member, said end member including a series of grooves thereon against which said detent means engage.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 including:

a retainer clip for urging said lock clip against said end member, said retainer clip including a saddle portion seating on said flange, and outwardly-directed wing portions bearing against said lock clip to hold said detent means in said end member grooves.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein:

said flange includes a portion thereof defining a cutout portion in which said lock clip is slidably received.

6. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein:

said lock and retainer clips include complementary engaging means for guiding the movement of and preventing skewing of said lock clip.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein:

said complementary engaging means comprise a tab 5 6 on one of said clips and a slot on the other of References Cited sald UNITED STATES PATENTS 8. An arrangement according to claim 5 wherem: said retainer clip includes means received in said cut- 3,019,718 2/1962 Macbeod 98 94 out portion for holding said retainer clip on said gl g g flan e with said win ortions bearin a ainst said ms 3 lockgcfip g p g g 3,134,319 5/1964- Marsteller 9s-94- 9. An arrangement accordmg to claim 4 whereln: MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner said retainer clip includes slot means adapted to be engaged by a tool for spreading said saddle portion 10 E. J. McCART-HY, Assistant Examiner and lifting said detent means from said grooves. 

